MOTORISTS in Falmouth and Penryn can apply for cut-price season tickets for some of the towns' council car parks, but only for a limited three month period.

In Falmouth it means a saving of £548 can be made for season tickets for the Dell and Quarry car parks, which will cost £350 for a year instead of £898; and at Gyllyngvase car park the cost is down from £320 to £230. In Penryn's Commercial Road facility, the charge is down to £250 - a saving of £170.

These cut price deals will only be available, though, between January 2 and March 31. As well as reducing the cost to motorists, the trial will assess if reducing the price of season tickets will encourage more drivers to buy them.

Those who have already bought a season ticket will be able to apply for a pro rata refund from Cornwall Council. A similar trial ran in Launceston last year and proved a success.

The season ticket trial is one of three pilot schemes being introduced in Cornwall Council car parks over the next six months, following the decision of the council to set aside £1.2m to underwrite any losses arising from the experiments.

These tariffs could become permanent if the trial schemes prove financially viable.

Another pilot parking scheme will give all motorists the option of using their mobile phone to access 30 minutes free parking in all council car parks between March 1 and April 20.

Councillor Bert Biscoe, portfolio holder for transport and waste, said: “Cornish towns rely on commerce and commuters to create the prosperity which they generate.

“In difficult times it is important the council's car parks should support competitiveness and generate good business both for the towns and for themselves.”

For more information about the trial visit www.cornwall.gov.co.uk/parkingoffers.